The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE LEGEND OF FATHER TAELMAN, S.J., IS STILL TOLD TO SMALL CHILDREN
AND TOURISTS IN THE TOWN WHERE I GREW UP. THE BEAUTIFUL MISSION
CHURCH, WITH ITS CARVED PULPIT AND MURALS WAS BEING DECORATED.
FR. TAELMAN WAS PAINTING WHAT WAS TO BE A SCENE FROM HELL.
SOME INDIANS CAME IN TO WATCH. SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CONVERT THE "HEATHENS", FR. TAELMAN EXPLAINED TO THEM WHAT
HELL WAS. THE INDIANS THEN LAUGHED AND POINTED OUT THAT ALL
THE DAMNED SOULS IN THE PAINTING WERE REPRESENTED AS WHITE MEN.
IF YOU GO TO THAT CHURCH TODAY, YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF THE
INDIAN FACES THAT FR. TAELMAN ADDED.

Submitter comment: ITS TRUE--I HAVE SEEN THE MURAL MYSELF.

Where learned: MISSOURI ; SAINT JOSEPH

Date learned: 10-05-1976